BRISTOL City striker Nicky Maynard will miss at least the first month of the new Championship campaign.

And he could face even longer on the sidelines if a sports injuries specialist decides City's star striker requires an operation to cure the knee problem that has wrecked his pre-season.

The news comes as a major blow to the Robins and their manager, Steve Coppell, who has been forced to contend with a bewildering array of injuries since taking up his post at the start of July.

With the new season just three days away, no fewer than eight City players are definitely out of Saturday's Championship opener against Millwall at Ashton Gate. And strikers Maynard and Danny Haynes, defenders Louis Carey, Lewin Nyatanga, Nicky Hunt and James Wilson and midfield powerhouse Kalifa Cisse could be out for several weeks to come.

Wales international defender Christian Ribeiro is back in training after recovering from a back problem, but Saturday's game will come too soon for the Academy product and the manager is likely to be forced to make a choice between first-year professional Joe Edwards and the versatile Cole Skuse when selecting a right-back to face the Lions.

Coppell remains active in the transfer market and is doing his utmost to bolster his depleted squad ahead of the weekend.

In the meantime, he has offered former Birmingham City left-back Tom Williams a six-month contract and the experienced defender, released by Peterborough United at the end of last season, will go straight into the squad to face Millwall.

But City's biggest requirement is for a striker to partner David Clarkson. Last season's top-scorer with 21 goals, Maynard played no part in City's pre-season programme, missed the tour to Sweden and has yet to resume even light training.

City assistant manager Keith Millen said: "Nicky Maynard's situation is a major concern. It's not the case that his injury is worse than first feared, rather that the problem is not responding to treatment and clearing up as quickly as we had hoped.

"Nicky is still unable to train and will see the surgeon at the end of next week. It may be that he needs an operation, although we hope it doesn't come to that.

"Obviously, losing Nicky is a blow, because he was our main source of goals last season and, as such, is difficult to replace."

City have expressed an interest in Arsenal forward Jay Simpson and Millen confirmed the club is pulling out all the stops to strengthen the squad over the next few days.

He said: "We have our list of targets and we are quite advanced in some cases. It is not as though we are starting from scratch.

"Sometimes, loan signings can be done more quickly, but we are looking at all the available options. The squad needs strengthening but, at the same time, we want to bring in the right players and not just make signings for the sake of it."

Coppell's other main area of concern lies with a defence which has been stripped of resources by injury and the departure of Jamie McCombe and Bradley Orr during the close season.

Signed from Bolton Wanderers at the end of last week, Hunt twisted an ankle 70 minutes into his debut against Blackpool at the weekend, sustained ligament damage and will be out of action for up to three weeks, leaving Coppell perilously short of cover at right-back.

Nyatanga could be out for even longer. Carried off on a stretcher in the same game, the Welsh international centre-back suffered ligament and cartilage damage to his knee and more will be known about his condition when the results of a hospital scan become available.

Having missed all of pre-season after dropping a barbecue on his heel, long-serving captain Carey also faces a lengthy wait on the sidelines.

Although the Bristolian is able to run again, kicking a ball remains painful and he is still unable to wear a boot.

Academy product Wilson and new signing Cisse would normally provide defensive cover, but both are ruled out by injury, further limiting the manager's options.

At least there is better news of Maynard's fellow striker, Haynes, now back in training after recovering from a groin strain. Despite sitting out the pre-season games, the former Ipswich raider could be available for selection before the end of this month.

Millen said: "Danny is back working with the group and is now only a couple of weeks away."